Beer or Cigarettes, anyone? How about just God?

Boy! I have had A DAY. And it's only the early afternoon! I'll tell you what, I don't drink and I don't smoke. But when I am lost in the chaos of a day like today, my mind wanders to find a vice. Any release to escape, to exhale, to relax and unwind!
I've been up since 5:30 a.m. with my two-year-old and four-month-old, which, in itself, is an hour and a half earlier than normal, not to mention, we went to sleep an hour and a half later than normal last night. Lost sleep. Cranky toddler. Did I mention, my daughter has decided no more diapers in her potty training process, and when I'm not hovering, I'm cleaning potty up off the floor? She started off good and had #1 and #2 in the potty. Whew! Then.... not so much. I was scrubbing pee off my new rug, and then she wanted a story but wouldn't get on the couch. I discovered that was because she had pooped her pants. *Sigh*
Meanwhile my son refused to take a nap anywhere but on my shoulder, while I was trying to get the dishwasher unloaded and reloaded and the mess on the counters from dinner the night before because I hadn't the energy to take care of anything before going to bed. (Moms, you've all been there.)
Next thing I know, while my son is nursing, my daughter, who was happily snacking on a small cup of cottage cheese with her spoon watching Blues Clues like usual, has picked it as the time to scientifically experiment with squishing the cottage cheese in both hands and smearing it completely and utterly all over her face and the table and floor (something she hasn't done with food in about 10 months). It is literally SUCH a mess that I have no choice but to strip her down and try to shower her off and wash the cottage cheese clumps out of her hair, along with the rest of her. The entire time I'm trying to clean my daughter off, my son is screaming bloody murder in his swing. On top of which, because it is raining and because our dog is a neurotic sissy, she is following me around acting scared of the "storm," making me trip on her as she tries to linger and stand under me or between my legs. This is an unignorable annoyance since she is a 60 pound lab/boxer.
By noon, everyone in the house needs a nap and I'm ready to kick the dog. My daughter resorted to a full melt-down, crying because she didn't want to hear me read Gerturde McFuzz and didn't want to take a nap. I started to pray for my much needed break. As I was sitting unshowered and half dressed on the floor next to the toddler bed, with my lap filled with my son on his boppy pillow, I started to daydream of different "fixes" I could use to escape since I couldn't physically leave the house. Too bad I don't smoke anymore. (The idea of it is appalling.) My husband and I don't drink so there's no alcohol on hand. No candy bars left after Easter. Maybe I could "unwind" with a nice cup of coffee, seeing as how caffeine is the only thing I have in the house. Love those imitation powdered mochas. As the idea of getting a break felt more and more utterly impossible, I was suddenly filled with the faith that God would answer even my small and seemingly impossible prayer that both the kids sleep and give me a break this afternoon by remembering one simple sentence:
With God All Things Are Possible.
All things, every little thing to every big thing. All things, are possible when I ask our Father. Right now? Both of my kids are completely passed out asleep and even the dog is content on the couch. My fix? I'm enjoying a nice cold glass of water as I type this in silence with nothing but the sound of God's rain drizzling down the window. Life is GOOD.

2 comments:

Katie said...

What a priceless picture! This article was so funny! I hate to laugh at your misfortune, but...

Anonymous said...

As a mother of two toddlers this article is SO relatable! It's so comforting to know I'm not the ONLY mother who has days like these! Keep the articles coming!